What is MP4?
MP4 is an abbreviated term for MPEG-4 Part 14. It may also be referred to as MPEG-4 AVC, which stands for Advanced Video Coding. As the name suggests, this is a format for working with video files and was first introduced in 1998. The MPEG refers to Motion Pictures Expert Group who is responsible for setting the industry standards regarding digital audio and video. The MP4 is a container format, allowing a combination of audio, video, subtitles and still images to be held in the one single file. It also allows for advanced content such as 3D graphics, menus and user interactivity. It is very popular among business people and residential users.

You may be dazzled by a huge range of PowerPoint-to-MP4 choices. To make it simple, here we are to introduce two most frequently used methods of converting PowerPoint to MP4 video.

Method 1 Using third-party PowerPoint to video conversion software PowerPoint to Video Pro is a standalone software program that enables you to capture all the sounds and frames from your PowerPoint presentation and save to any video format like AVI, WMV, MPEG, flv, MP4, VOB, 3GP, 3G2, MOV or DV.

To save PPT to MP4 video with the magic software, perform these 5 steps:

Step 1 Launch the software to add PowerPoint files
Once the Best PowerPoint to Video is installed on your computer, run it and click Add to import a PowerPoint file for conversion.

Step 2 Specify a directory for the output MP4 video
By default, the output style is set to MP4 at the first use of the software. Set an output folder for the video file to be generated.

Step 3 Make advanced settings in the Profile interface
Click the Settings button next to the Profile field to enter the Profile field. Make advanced settings for audio and video parameters there. Then click OK to save the current settings.

Step 4 Customize for the output video
Click Customize to make custom settings for the output MP4 file. Set any tab of Timing, Music, Audio, Slide and Conversion as necessary.

Step 5 Start converting PowerPoint to MP4 video
Click the Start button to start converting the presentation to MP4 video. Leave the final task to PowerPoint to Video Converter Pro and get yourself a cup of coffee.

Once is converted, click Finish to view the MP4 video in the specified folder. Play it with Windows Media Player for an effect test, shown as follows:

Method 2 Creating MP4 video from PowerPoint with Screen Recorder
A screen recorder like SnagIt can also record your presentation playing on a PC screen. It grabs your slideshow at about 10 frames per second when no video clip is embedded in the PowerPoint presentation. But if a full motion video is there, you have to take a more powerful capture app like Camtasia ($299 per copy).

Disadvantages:
1. Screen recorders require a frequent reopening of a PowerPoint presentation as they are deficient to process a pile of slides at once.